Doncaster community group in fight against fracking

Campaigners opposing fracking in a Doncaster village say they are ‘determined’ to defeat plans from an energy giant to build a well in the area.

During a day of action last weekend dozens of Misson residents protested at the site where energy giant IGas has applied to build two wells.

Afterwards, members of the Misson Community Action group said they are confident that many other locals will join the campaign to stop fracking in the area.

Resident and action group member Jayne Watson said the ‘peaceful’ protest was the latest show of strength in the community’s fight against fracking.

She said: “The residents of Misson and the surrounding communities have started a determined and focused campaign to defeat any plans of IGas, or any other fossil fuel company, to become established in the area.

“Residents do not want to be living in the middle of a gas field in the future.

“A recent survey showed that 82 per cent of the residents of Misson are overwhelmingly against the development.

“Residents are very concerned about the negative impact to their quality of life and environment from the traffic, drilling noise, vibration and lighting.

“If the site eventually develops into full-scale fracking and gas production then there are major concerns regarding the safety of the principal aquifer nearby that provides a large area of the East Midlands with its drinking water.”

If plans for the scheme, which are currently in their infancy, are granted planning permission, IGas hopes to drill a vertical well in Misson Springs by next June.

Depending on results, the firm then plans to drill a horizontal well and request permission for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, by the end of 2016.

Andrew Marple, development engineer for IGas, told residents at a recent meeting that the process would require more than 2,000 cubic metres of water.

The company estimates it will require around 1,000 cubic metres of water in order to drill the vertical well. The process will take place over 20 weeks, which equates to less than 10 cubic metres per day on average.

For the horizontal drilling it is estimated that IGas will take 12 weeks and will require around 900 cubic metres.

Each tanker holds 30 cubic metres so it would then require 34 trips over the course of 20 weeks for the vertical well, and 30 trips for the horizontal.